1 April 2010 Relative Attractiveness of Colour Traps to Pear Psylla in Relation to Seasonal Changes in Pear Phenology
W.R. Cooper, G.J. Puterka, D.M. Glenn
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Abstract

Monitoring of pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster), Hemiptera: Psyllidae) prior to spring bud break could aid in predicting the size of subsequent spring populations and lead to improved proactive management decisions. Yellow traps are commonly used to monitor hemipteran pests including pear psylla, but very little is known regarding seasonal changes in attractiveness of yellow traps or relative attractiveness of colours other than yellow. This study presents seasonal colour-trap preferences of pear psyllas based on pear (Pyrus communis L., Rosaceae) phenological stages in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America. Black, blue, brown, clear (colourless), green, orange, red, white, and yellow traps were assayed against wild adult psylla populations over a 2-year period. Pear psyllas had a strong preference for yellow and orange when green leaves were present; however, we found no statistically significant difference between traps of different colours prior to spring bud break. Significantly more female psyllas were caught overall, but there was no gender-based colour bias. None of our colour traps caught significantly fewer psyllas than did clear (background hue) traps, suggesting that no traps were repellent.

© 2010 Entomological Society of Canada
W.R. Cooper, G.J. Puterka, and D.M. Glenn "Relative Attractiveness of Colour Traps to Pear Psylla in Relation to Seasonal Changes in Pear Phenology," The Canadian Entomologist 142(2), 188-191, (1 April 2010). https://doi.org/10.4039/n09-018
Received: 9 January 2009; Accepted: 1 November 2009; Published: 1 April 2010
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